Will Salt Kill Maggots?

Written by Hana LaRock; Updated April 12, 2018

Of all the creatures you might find in your home, maggots are not a pest that can be tolerated, as even the sight of them is enough to make some people nauseous. Luckily, there are several effective ways to get rid of them.

Where Maggots Come From

Maggots are the larvae of common household flies, and are therefore easy to find in the kitchen, garbage bins or anywhere food is found. They are more likely to appear in warmer weather. Because flies are attracted to food and trash, it's no surprise that their eggs are found there, too. The eggs hatch into maggots, with a life cycle can take anywhere from seven days to a month.

The most common place to find maggots is in a plastic garbage bin, where trash accumulates before removal. Though they can also be found on open food in the home or a small bag of trash, people would most likely notice flies before eggs are laid in these locations. Unfortunately, maggots might finally be discovered only when next week's trash goes out for the garbage workers to pick up.

How To Use Salt to Kill Maggots

While there are quite a few methods for killing maggots, one that is proven to work is the use of salt. All living creatures require water to stay hydrated and survive. Since salt is a natural dehydrator, tiny maggots cannot handle. Any table salt will get this job done.

Simply sprinkle a generous amount of salt over the maggots. The salt should also be placed around the rim of the bin to prevent them from coming again. Once they are dead, clean them up, deposit them in a sealed bag immediately and wash the bin thoroughly.

Potential Warnings

Though maggots don't cause health problems directly, they are often associated with the rotting flesh of dead creatures. However, maggots can also get onto the skin of living people as well, and the condition is known as Myiasis, an infection which is much more prevalent in tropical and subtropical areas. Though it's not common in the United States, be sure to protect any exposed wounds when you are cleaning up after maggots, as the larvae can get enter.

Flies can also lay their eggs on other insects like mosquitoes, and when those bite humans, the larvae can enter, hatch into maggots and spread. Again, this is uncommon in the U.S. but maggot removal should still be handled with care.

Alternatives to Salt

In addition to salt, there are other ways to get rid of maggots. One way is to pour boiling water over them. Another way is to use lime or vinegar in the same way the salt is used, or use the naturally occurring soft sedimentary rock known as diatomaceous earth.

Keep Maggots Away for Good

Getting rid of maggots once won't prevent them from coming back, as flies can lay thousands of eggs. Keeping maggots away for good is half the battle, and can be done in several ways.

About the Author

Hana LaRock has been a content writer for the last five years. She's originally from New York but has lived in South Korea, Israel, and now, Mexico, with her boyfriend and dog. Hana spends her time traveling, reading, cooking, and writing stories.